Esteban Ocon ‘really annoyed’ to not have battled Max Verstappen in Formula 1 so far
Esteban Ocon expressed his desire to battle Max Verstappen on the track in Formula 1 and hopes to do so in the future.
Esteban Ocon and Max Verstappen (Via: Imago)
The 2024 Brazilian GP was full of thrill where Max Verstappen battled with his old rival Esteban Ocon to win his eighth title of the season. They were battling against each other after six years. In Brazil in 2018, the two were involved in a heated battle.
The Frenchman collided with Verstappen while trying to unlap himself. This led the Red Bull driver to spin and lose the lead which ignited a furious confrontation on Ocon. However, the incidents at Interlagos this year were totally different.
Max Verstappen had difficult outings before the race day, particularly in qualifying which placed him at P17. Despite this, he drove that exceptionally, marching through the field and setting the fastest lap one over the other.
On lap 45 after the first safety car restart, Verstappen was battling the two Alpines. Due to his new engine, he had more horsepower than any other car, which helped him overtake them. Esteban Ocon praised the Dutchman for racing so hard and always demonstrating his talent on the track.
The Alpine driver finally had the chance to battle his old rival after six years, which left him feeling frustrated. The 28-year-old expressed his strong desire to go head-to-head with the three-time world champion on equal terms in the future.
Esteban Ocon appreciates Max Verstappen’s performance, says he ‘works his butt off’
Everyone knows Max Verstappen’s success in F1 isn’t just about his raw talent. The Dutchman is known for his relentless hard work on and off track in order to clinch the victories. His dedication, combined with his natural racing ability, makes him a tough competitor.
Esteban Ocon holds great respect for him because of these qualities. The 28-year-old stated that Verstappen truly earned his championships through his hard work.
Verstappen has successfully widened his gap with title rival Lando Norri. After facing setbacks for months, the Dutchman and team ended their 210-day winless streak in Brazil.
Gaurang Kadam
(535 Articles Published)